American Airlines is bringing seat-back screens back to its narrowbody fleet, reversing a decision made several years ago to move away from the amenity and offer streaming options on customers’ personal devices.
The Fort Worth carrier’s revival of seatback entertainment is the latest decision aimed at remaking its ground and in-flight experience. In the last year, American has announced it will partner with Starlink for high-speed Wi-Fi, retrofits to bring more premium seating to existing aircraft, digital upgrades, and further investments in luxury lounges.
The seatback screens will be equipped on all new Airbus and Boeing aircraft deliveries starting in 2028, in addition to being onboard retrofitted aircraft. American, which operates its central hub at DFW International Airport, already has screens installed on more than 140 long-haul aircraft in its fleet, the airline said. The availability of screens on a large portion of its fleet will align American with competitors United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, both of which have heavily invested in seat-back entertainment in recent years.
The “next-generation platform” will feature large displays, 4K technology, USB-C charging ports, and will allow pairing with customers’ personal headphones and earbuds, according to American. The entertainment system will also offer a personalized experience, such as movie and show recommendations, interactive flight maps, and real-time flight insights.
Click here to read more on this report from our partners at The Dallas Morning News.